Update: Big Brew Day a success for food banks

Update (from Roger Savoy of Home Brew Emporium): “Homebrew Emporium had a great Big Brew Day on May 4th. Between all our locations we had approximately 125 brewers that crafted over 600 gallons of Portions Proper English Dark Mild. With donations and raffle sales we raised S1,400 dollars for local food banks. We were also able to collect 330 pounds of food. We would like to thank all the local establishments that donated prizes to be raffled off and all the people who brewed and brought friends and family to learn and enjoy the craft brewing. In the Rensselaer location we had 57 brewers who donated 125 pounds of food and helped us raise $750 dollars for the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.”

(Originally posted 4/29/13.)

RENSSELAER — Each year, the local Big Brew Day celebrates National Homebrew Day.

Again this year, Homebrew Emporium will be marking BBD by giving out free ingredients for making beer on the premises this Saturday (May 4), although requesting a minimum donation of a non-perishable food item and $10, all to go to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

In addition, the store is running a canned food drive at all its stores in New York and Massachusetts through Sunday (May 5).

For the past three years, the store has given all the ingredients away for free to brewers who come and brew in front of the store that day. Throughout the day it will raffle off prizes from local establishments and vendors to help raise money to help support the food bank.